Regulation an Structure of Inter-Trial Fluctuations for a Simple Air Hockey Game
Restricted (Penn State Only)
Author:
Morgen, Zachary
Graduate Program:
Engineering Science and Mechanics
Degree:
Master of Science
Document Type:
Master Thesis
Date of Defense:
March 13, 2024
Committee Members:
Joseph Paul Cusumano, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor Gary L. Gray, Committee Member Albert Segall, Program Head/Chair Jonathan Bates Dingwell, Committee Member
Keywords:
Goal equivalent manifold Motor lateralization Motor regulation
Abstract:
When humans perform repeated goal-directed movements, the statistical variability that occurs from one trial to the next has captivated the attention of movement neuroscience. We investigate the inter-trial fluctuations of a simple model of a human playing air hockey. Theoretical analysis of a previously developed theory of inter-trial error correction is used to predict the geometric structure of variability near a goal equivalent manifold (GEM). The theory utilizes a goal function, which provides a mapping of body-level fluctuations to error at the task level. This mapping also shows how goal-level error scales with the inclusion of body-level noise. In this thesis, we show how this theory is used to not only predict variability, but how the geometric structure and properties of GEM is utilized to regulate motor noise. Finally, we explain how model based GEM analysis supports experimental findings.
